WAIPAHU, O'ahu, Hawai'i – Through the first three games of the series between the Chaminade University and Fresno Pacific University baseball teams, there is certainly no shortage of drama.
Following Friday's 11-inning marathon which took approximately four hours to complete, in Saturday's doubleheader at Hans L'Orange Field, there was more of the same.
Game 2 of the series saw the scheduled seven-inning contest go to extras again where Fresno Pacific prevailed, 9-8, which went nine frames. The nightcap did not go beyond the seven-inning threshold with FPU taking the third game, 7-5, although there was still drama at the end.
Chris Mata (Wailuku, Maui, Hawai'i/South Mountain CC/Maui HS) seemingly did it all for the Silverswords in both games. Not only did the junior centerfielder amass three hits in both games to extend his hitting streak to 16, breaking the previous mark of 15 set in 2023 by Ryan Ruch, he played stellar defense and even pitched three innings of relief in the matinee.
Taylor Ayala (Bountiful, Utah/Salt Lake CC/Woods Cross HS) also added four base knocks on the day while
Aydan Lobetos (Ewa Beach, O'ahu, Hawai'i/Kamehameha-Kapalama) drove in four runs.
Chaminade fell to 7-26 and 5-22 in the Pacific West Conference while Fresno Pacific improved to 18-15 and 13-8 in the conference.
Game 1: FPU 9, CUH 8 (9 inn.)
After spotting the Sunbirds the first two runs, the 'Swords had a six-run inning for the second straight game, this time coming in the third inning, sending 10 batters to the plate, the big hit coming on a bases-clearing double by Lobetos.
Leading 6-5 in the top of the seventh, Chaminade had a chance to close out the game but FPU scored twice to take a 7-6 lead. The 'Swords, however, replied in the bottom of the frame on
Caleb Wagner's (Menifee, Calif./Mesa) RBI triple to dead center which sent the game into extras.
The Sunbirds scored a run in the eighth but the Silverswords answered in their half when the centerfielder booted
Trysten Mooney's (Helena, Mont./Wenatchee Valley College/Capital HS) base hit and rolled all the way to the 400-foot sign in centerfield, allowing the speedy Mata to score all the way from first and force another set of innings.
FPU managed to get a run in the ninth but the 'Swords ran out of magic in the bottom of the ninth to suffer the defeat.
Mata had three hits, scored twice and was summoned from center field to the mound to start the sixth inning, where he tossed three innings, allowing two hits with three strikeouts.
Tyler Geivet (Aliso Viejo, Calif./Aliso Niguel) was charged with the loss.
Damon McKenzie got the win for Fresno Pacific.
Game 2: FPU 7, CUH 5
Trailing 3-1 in the fifth, Chaminade rallied and tied it on an RBI hits from Lobetos and
Alex Greb (Seattle/Wenatchee Valley College/Ballard HS).
A three-run homer in the sixth by Brennan Johnson in the sixth untied it while
Cade Fujii's (Kapolei, O'ahu, Hawai'i/Porterville College/Kapolei HS) RBI single got Chaminade to within 6-4.
In the bottom of the seventh and facing a 7-4 deficit,
Bode Poler (Montesano, Wash./Gonzaga University/Montesano HS) got a clutch pinch-hit RBI hit to cut the Sunbirds' lead to 7-5. With
Ace Perry (Kaneohe, O'ahu, Hawai'i/University), pinch running for Poler at second and Greb at third and down to their final out, Mata crushed a fly ball down the left field line which just curled outside the foul pole, missing a three-run walk-off home run by just a few feet.
Mata, Ayala and Greb each had three hits while the loss went to
Fisher Migita (Honolulu/Mid-Pacific Institute). In all, Chaminade racked up 15 hits against FPU starter Justin Tinsley who ended up getting the win. Josh Nixon got the final out to pick up the save.
The series finale between the two teams will be Sunday at 2 p.m.
